Refrigerating apparatus and method



Jan. 12, 1937. c. L. JONES ET AL 2,067,325

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed April 27, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CkarleJL. fonas' Q'owardJ MYlvaz'n ATTORNEY Jan.12, 1937. NE Er AL 2,067,325

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed April 27, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 2 W /M "A Zw/ WM/ y M 161 g r MW WW" i INVENTOR CharlesL.Jones /g Bjgoward flvmim ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1937. I c. L. JONES ET AL2,067,325

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed April 27, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet s 7 #jAw WW @W INVENTOR Ukarhs .5. kfo'rzes Howard A. M 710001BY J Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I REFRIGERATINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD Charles L. Jones, Pelham, N. Y., and Howard S.

Mcllvain, Belleville, N. J., assignors, by mesne assignments, to AdicoDevelopment Corporation Original application April 27, 1931, Serial No.533,036. Divided and this application May 7, 1931, Serial No. 535,784

17 Claims.

Our present invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and methodsparticularly adapted for use in connection with solid carbon dioxide asthe refrigerant. By our invention, we simplify the apparatus and make itreadily adaptable for refrigerators of widely varying types and sizes,and for widely varying conditions of use of any refrigerator in' whichthe invention has been embodied.

1 An important feature is to make the solid car- .bon dioxide and itscontainer respond quickly and effectively for re-chilling the atmosphereof the refrigerator, when suddenly over-heated as by frequent use ofside-opening doors of refrigerated delivery trucks, but many of itsfeatures may be effectively utilized in other types of refrigerators, asfor instance, household, display-case, or storage room refrigerators;also refrigeratoi 'cars and less-than-carload lot containers.

One object of the invention is to-provide a novel container forthe solidcarbon dioxide, constructed with a view to collecting heat from acomparatively wide area of the atmosphere of the refrig crated space andpreferablyfrom theupper or warmer region of said space; preferably alsoto collect it rapidly through metal surfaces and to conduct it to theinterior of said container through an all metal path. When the exteriorsurface of the metal is exposed to the atmosphere directly, its responseto changes of temperature of the atmosphere is very I rapid as comparedwith the much slower response of metal containers that absorb heatthrough heat insulation. The less the exterior insulation and thefurther the collected heat has to travel through the all metal path, themore closely will the collecting surface tend to follow the tempera tureof the contacting air rather than that of the refrigerant source.Consequently, the quicker and more effective the response will be.

In certain special cases, where low temperature or a high rate ofrefrigeration is required, the refrigerant container may be used withoutany insulation either outside or inside, the solid carbon dioxiderestingdirectly on the metal bottom of the container. On the other hand,interior insulation as by wrapping the blocks of solid carbon dioxide inone or many thicknesses of paper or insert'ng one or many thicknesses ofpaper or of corrugated paperboar-d'between the solid and thebottomof thecontainer may be availed of to slow down the rate of sublimation of thesolid,

thereby increasing the effective refrigerant temperature of the walls ofthe container and its remote collecting surfaces, without proportionallydecreasing the sensitiveness with which said surfaces will collect anddeliver the heat.

One important factor is that'whatever may be the basic refrigerantevaporation rates thus predetermined, it is seldom possible to avoidformation of frost on the heat collecting surfaces. The lowerthetemperature of these surfaces, the more frost they are likely tocollect, and such frost layer is variable and therefore unreliableexterior insulation tending to make the exterior refrigerant surfacevary from approximately the freezing point of water when the frost isvery thick, down to say 50 or more below zero R, which may be thetemperature of the bottom of the container when it is free from frost.

It will be evident that by having metallic heat conducting flanges a-ndfins of large area extending into contact with relatively remote partsof the atmosphere of the refrigerated space, particularly at a highlevel therein, the coldest spot will be at the bottom of the container,and that the temperatures will be progressively higher toward the moreremote edges of said heat collecting flanges or fins. In a particularcase, the latter might be at or above zero F. while the bottom of themetal container would be 50 or more below zero. thinnest toward theremote edges,-and progressively thicker along the lines of heat flow tothe bottom of the container on which the solid carbon dioxide; issupported. It will be evident that by this distribution of theinsulating host, the direct heatabsorbing effect of the cold bottom ofthe collection by circulating the evaporated gas in conduits, preferablythin and fiat, arranged around the upper angles of the ceiling and sidewalls. V 'However, in the preferred case, the

In such case, the frost formation will be gas circulating conduits aredispensed with; the metal capacity; and said collectors are extended asfar as may bedesired, sometimes to the walls or even downward on thewall.

In any case, the gas may be discharged inside or outside therefrigerated space, but preferably 7 outside, either to the exterioratmosphere or into the insulation container between exterior wallsof therefrigerator, to there serve asdrying and insulating as well as somewhatrefrigerant medium.

Lin section and showing it attached to the roof The above and otherfeatures of my invention will be more evident-from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is an enlarged plan view of a form of the bunker designed for varioususes in accordance with our present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bunker, partly of a truck or otherrefrigerator chamber;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the bunker, taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1';

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the refrigerant insulated as bywrapping in a number of thicknesses of paper; or by merely supporting ona layer of insulation such as corrugated paper board; or both;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing-a single chamber' with two bunkers; I

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the adjacent refrigerator' chamberseach corresponding to Fig. 2 but with the roof removed to show thebunkers in place, the bunkers being different in detail; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of refrigerator chamher, the interior and amodified form of bunker being shown in perspective.

The refrigerated space as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, may be the body ofan ordinary motor truck or any other refrigerator, and may have anydesirable number of doors 3 arid, preferably in' the top, there arehatchways 4,-Fig. 2, each having directly thereunder an opening 8through tight in any conventional manner and we have for labor inassembling difi'erent parts.

found it very effective and economical to provide inner and outergas-tight metallicv walls 9 and III with any desirablelthickness of goodinsulating material, such as kapok or cork, between the said gas-proofwalls '8 and 10.

is suddenly warmed, as by opening the service doors.-

The bunker 8 has integral bottom and side walls, and is closed-in by thegas-tight top I8,

except for the opening 6, to permit of charging of same with solid; andsaid opening has upright walls l5 forming a gas-tight well'or combingthat projects up into the hatchway and is sealed therer in by rubber orother gas-tight packing or cement.

The upper surface of the bunker is preferably spaced away from theceiling any predetermined distance by provision of cross ribs 23, whichmay be made, say, one-half inch thicker than the balance of thetop I8 sothat they not only provide for a space of definite thickness between thebunker and the ceiling of the refrigerator, but also afford a strongerportion" through which the bunker may be fastened to the ceiling, thefastening being accomplished by the screws or bolts passing through theopenings 24.

The bunker 8 is preferably of cast aluminum or aluminum alloy, and in aparticular case the,

various parts were approximately 1 5' inch in thickness. It has aplurality of heat collecting extensions including-fins l7, extendingfrom the sides and havingthe largest portionof their heat, collectingarea, in direct heat-imparting relation to a relatively high levelportion of the bunker.

The high level heat collecting surface is further increased by extendingthetop l8 of the bunker beyond the vertical sides iii to form lateralflanges Na and preferably thefins II, are formed as brackets supportingsaid flanges and operating as short circuiting, all-metal conductingpaths for flow of heat directly to the lower, colder portions of thewalls of the bunker.

In Fig. 2, the bunker is shown in position in a section of the roof of arefrigerator, the hatch- While the bunker 8 may be made of galvanizedir'on, copper'or other metal, or may be fabricated from sheet metal, itis preferably made of aluminum and cast at one operation, thusminimizing the cost and doing away with the necessity The aluminum, oraluminum. alloy is comparatively cheap, is of exceptionally good heatconducting quality. A- shallow bunker of convenient capacity may haveits body portion, say, 50" x 14" x 8". The walls of :thecasting may he,say, inch thick, but in any event, the

tal fnay be made thick enough to afford ample cross-section for.

flow of heat; also to afford great heat storage capacity,.which isanother way of saying that, when cold, it represents readily and locallyavailable refrigerating capacity which is effective for absorbing'lieatwhen the refrigerated atmosphere 'jolting of a truck or. refrigeratorcar.

The openings shown at 29 and plugged by the plugs 30 are placed atany-convenient location and may be used for hooking-up an automatictemperature control, valve operation, or the like. Our invention can beused eitherfor frozen 'or non-frozen products and because of the ab-'sence of insulation, in the preferred form, around the bunker itself, avery low temperature can be reached in a minimum of time, and by thesimple expedient of placing varying amounts of insulation, either aroundthe solid carbon dioxide 20,

'as shown at 2!, Fig. 5; or between it and the metallic bunker, as shownat 22,'we can accurately control theheat absorption, thus controllingthe sublimating rate of the solid carbon dioxide and still having theadvantages of an uninsulated bunker when the same is desirable.

Theheat is.conducted from the refrigerated atmosphere to the refrigerantthrough the uninsulated, metal walls, and the heat from more remote andwarmer portions is conducted directly to the bunker through the heatcollecting extensions ma, [1. The usual top to bottom thermo currents ofthe atmosphere of the refrigerated space will be set up but will not beas localized in this case as in other refrigerators of this, 75

, the flanges No.

general type, because the relatively great heat absorbing area in'theupper or normally'warmest region will offset thenatural tendency of thebottom to become much colder than the top, and as this difference intemperature between the different regions is what tends to set up suchcurrents they will therefore be greatly diffused. The heat absorbingarea is distributed over a wide space, which space mayinclude-practically all of the ceiling ara, this region normally tendingto be the warmest and most diflicult to refrigerate. Another advantageis that the various parts are placed almost entirely out of the path ofincoming and outgoing products and they will not be subjected to thehazard of injury due to the jolting or sliding around of the cargo whilethe vehicle is in motion. This also-obviates the necessity for erectinga protecting wall between the lading and the ducts, when a duct systemis used; and the ducts may be confined to a high level.

In Fig. '7, the bunker of Figs. 1 to 4 is shown as varied by having thelaterally extending flanges l8b as much wider as may be desired. Alsothe end of the bunker is flanged as at I80, in addition to the sideflange shown in the other figures. In the left compartment of Fig. 7, wehave shown how instead of widening the integral flanges, supplementalflanges l8d may be bolted or riveted in firm heat conducting contactwith I These supplemental flanges 'may be extended to the side walls ofthe refrigerator, as shown, and theouter edges may be turned down andsecured to said side walls, if desired.-

In Fig. 6, the arrangement is like that shown in Fig. ,7, except thatthe bunkers are supposed to be of'the construction shown in Figs.' 1 to4,

' and the entire distance between them is bridged by a supplementalsheet metal piece 181:.

In all cases, the supplemental extension may be a casting, or sheetaluminum or sheet copper,

- or any other desired metal.

how the interior of the refrigerator may appear when it is the propersize fora single bunker. In this case the entire bunker construction in-Y cluding heat collecting flanges and brackets may be the same as inFigs. 1 to 4. However, we have utilized this view to show how the bunkermay be tapped and supplied with a coupling plate SI for a low levelgas-outlet 32'; also how the sides may be similarly providedwith outletcouplings 36a for high level gas conduit connections. Either of theseconnections may be. used for flat gas flow conduits leading to anydesired part of the refrigerator space and if desired, a closed circuitof gas circulation may be conducted from the low level outlet 32aroundthe comers between the roof and side walls, in which case the gas maybereturned through the side high level coupling 3|a. It will be obvio sthat the coupling 3| and 3m may be rem ved and imperforate plates boltedon in their'stead; in which case the construction will become to allintents.

and purposes, the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. i

' In most cases we prefer not to discharge the gas into the refrigerated'spme because air is lighter-and gives a much more lively convectioncirculation to and from the metal heat collecting surfaces, therebytending to more rapid equalization of temperature between the top andthe bottom. This is highly desirable where service doors are frequentlyopened.' Also pure air is desirable where the space must be entered 1for loading or unloading.

the atmosphere to be refrigerated, said container raving heat conductingextensions disposed horizontally from opposite sides of the container ata level at the top side thereof and extending to portions of the chamberremote from the container, and heat collecting fins below saidextensions for conducting heat to the container.

2. A refrigerating apparatus including a heat insulated chamber, ametallic container for a solidified gas refrigerant mounted at a highlevel n the chamber in spaced relation to the chamber walls anduninsulated from the atmosphere in the chamber, said container havingheat conducting extensions disposed horizontally' from opposite sides ofthe container at a level at the upper side of the container, and saidextensions extended from the container to opposite side walls of thecompartment across the space in the chamber between the container andcompartment walls.

3. A refrigerating apparatus including a hea insulated chamber, separatemetallic containers for a solidified gas refrigerant mounted at a h ghlevel in thechamber adjacent but spaced from opposite walls,respectively, of the chamber,-

each of said containers in spaced relat on to the walls of the chamberand uninsulated from the atmosphere to be refrigerated, said con- *aners each having heat conducting extensions disposed horizontally fromopposite sides thereof at a level at the top of the container, and theextensions on facing sides of the conta ners joined to extend across thespace in the chamber between said containers.

I 4. A refrigerating apparatus including an insulated chamber. ametallic container for a solidified gas refrigerant supported at a highlevel in a d chamber spaced from all the chamber walls or circulation ofthe chamber atmosphere completely there-around, said containeruninsulated from the chamber atmosphere and having metall c heatconducting extensions horizontally disp"sed and extending from above thebottom of the container to remote portions of the chamber or conductingheat from such remote portions t the container and a refrigeranttherein.

5. A refrigerating apparatus including an insulated chamber to berefrigerated. a container of heat conducting material adapted to receivea solidified gas refrigerant therein. said containcr mounted at a highlevel in said chamber spaced away from all of the walls of the chamberfor circulation of air within the chamber complete-- ly there-around,and the said container having high heat conducting extensions extendingfrom above the bottom ofthe container to the top thereof and terminatingin extensions extend-- ing from the top of the container to relativelyremote portions of said chamber. 6. A .refrigeratlng apparatus insulatedchamber, a container of heat conducting material adapted to be chargedwith a solidified gas-refrigerant in thermal relation therehaving heatconducting extensions extending from the top of the longer sides of saidcontainer above the bottom thereof, to portions of the chamberrelatively remote from said refrigerant container. v

7. A refrigerating apparatus including an insulated chamber, a containerof heat conducting material adapted to receive a solidified gas re-.

frigerant therein in heat'exhange relation therewith, said refrigerantcontainer mounted 1 in the chamber at a high level adjacent the top wallthereof and uninsulated from and in direct heat conductive relation withthe atmosphere within the chamber, the said container being of greaterlength than width and having heat conducting extensions fextendinghorizontally from the longer sides of said container from a level nearthe top thereof, to portions of the chamber relatively remote from thecontainer.

8. A metallic container for a solidified gas refrigerant, having anopening through the top wall for access to the interior of thecontainer, the container top side extended a considerable distancebeyond the container side walls to provide metal heat conducting pathsfrom locations relatively remote from the container, and heatcolle'cting fins extending from the container side walls below saidextended container 'top side.

'9. A relatively thick-walled, cast-metal container for a gas producingrefrigerant, said container having'a normally closed top opening forcharging the container withrefrigerant and the container walls beingsubstantially without exterior heat insulation, the top side of saidcontainer being extended a' considerable distancebeyondthe side wallsthereof to provide metallic heat conducting paths to the container fromlocations relatively remote from the container, and

including an v I heat collecting fins extending from the container sidewalls below said extended top side of the container.

10-. A metallic container for a solidified gas refrigerant, having thewalls of the container -without substantial exterior heat insulation,the

top side of the container being extended a considerable distance beyonda sidewall. of the container to provide a metallic heat conducting pathI from a location remote from the container, and

vertically disposed heat conducting fins extend-- side of the container.

11. A metallic container for a solidified gas refrigerant, having thecontainer walls' without exterior heat insulation, the top sideof thecontainer being extended a considerable distance beyond a side wall ofthecontainer to provide. a-

heat conducting path from a location remote from and out ofsubstantially direct thermal effect by the wall of the container, andspaced vertically disposed heat conducting fins extending from the wallof the container below said extended top side, the outer ends of thespaces between said fins being open and substantially completelyunobstructed through-out the depth I of the outer ends of the fins;

12. A metallic container for a solidified gas refrigerant, saidcontainer adapted to be mounted in a chamber to be refrigerated adjacentthe top wall of the chamber, the container having tainer having the topside thereof extended beyond a side wall thereof for a considerabledis-.

tance to provide a heat conducting path from a portion of a chamberremote from the container,

and heatconducting fins extending from the container side wall below theextended top side of the container. s

13. A refrigerating apparatus including in combination, an insulatedchamber to be refrigerated, a'metallic container for a solidified gasrefrigerant, mounted in said chamber at a high level adjacent the topwall of the chamber, said container being uninsulated from theatmosphere in the chamber and spaced from' the top wall and remainingwalls of the chamber for circulation of i the chamber atmospherecompletely .around and over the container, and said container providedwith heat conducting extensions disposed substantially horizontally fromopposite sides thereof at a level adjacent the top of the container,said extensions extending considerable distances across the chamber toportions of the chamber atmosphere remote andremoved from I the directthermal effect of the uninsulated con tainer.

14. A refrigerating apparatus. comprising an insulated chamber, acontainer for solid carbon dioxide at a highlevel therein anduninsulated from the atmosphere to be refrigerated, said container beingof greater length than width and having" high heat conducting extensionsextend-- ing from the longer sides of said container and increasinginarea from the bottom towards the top, and from a point near the top ofsaid container.

15. vA metallic container for a refrigerant, having an opening foraccess to theinterior thereof and having the .top side extending beyondthe side 'walls thereof and heat collecting fins below and in contactwithsaid extended top, and arranged at right angles thereto.

16. A metallic container for a refrigerant, havingan opening for accessto the interior thereof .and having the top side extending beyond theside walls thereof and heat collecting fins, extending from said sidewalls below said extended top and being of increasing area towards thetop.

17. A metallic container for a refrigerant, having an opening for accessto the interior thereof and having the top side extending beyond theside walls thereof and heat collecting fins ex-' tending at right anglesfrom said side walls and connectedto said top.

' CHARLES -L. JONES.

HQWARD s. McILVAIN.

